DANBURY, Conn. — A Connecticut businessman charged in a sex trafficking ring is facing a lawsuit from alleged victims who say he knowingly engaged in unprotected sex for more than 40 years while infected with HIV.

The Danbury News-Times reports that the lawsuit filed against Bruce Bemer follows a judge’s decision to grant a request to have the man tested for HIV in March as part of the criminal proceedings. The results were shared with the alleged victims.

Bemer’s attorney, Anthony Spinella, says the request violated his client’s privacy rights and served an “attempt to inject homophobia into this case.”

An attorney for the victims says potential exposure to sexually transmitted diseases is a compensable injury.

Bemer has been charged with patronizing a trafficked person in connection with ring based in Danbury.